Air India Terminal Change at Delhi Airport: What Flyers Need to Know Before Their Next Flight

If you’re planning a flight from USA to India with Air India and will pass through Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi, there’s an important change you should know about. When your journey includes a stop or connection at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi, the usual routine is shifting. 

In 2025, Air India is moving parts of its operations to a different terminal. It’s not a huge drama, but it does mean you’ll want to check your details carefully — to avoid that last-minute scramble. And as your friends at Tripbeam, we’re here to walk you through exactly what changed, why it matters, and how you can stay ahead of it.

Overview: IGI’s Terminals and How Air India Operated Before

Let’s set the scene. Delhi’s IGI Airport has several main terminals that carry the bulk of traffic:

1. Terminal 3 (T3) – This is the big international terminal, and also the hub for many of Air India’s operations.
2. Terminal 2 (T2) – Historically used for domestic flights and some smaller carriers; has been undergoing upgrades.
3. Terminal 1 (T1) – Also domestic-centric (low cost carriers etc), and a little further away from T3.

Before the change, if you were flying Air India from the U.S. to India (say New York to Delhi and then onward in India), your arrival into Delhi would almost always be T3 for the international leg. Suppose you were connecting to a domestic flight in India. In that case, you’d usually still operate out of T3 or sometimes another terminal — but generally one terminal which made life simpler for U.S. flyers.

Details of the Air India Terminal Change — What’s Changed, Which Flights Are Affected, Effective Dates, How to Confirm

So what exactly has changed? Here are the updated 2025 specifics:

1. From 26 October 2025, Air India announced that some of its domestic flights at IGI will move from T3 to T2.
2. More precisely: 60 of Air India’s approx. 180 daily domestic departures out of Delhi will be shifted to T2.
3. Those moved flights will carry four-digit flight numbers starting with “1”, for example AI 1737, AI 1787 — to help you identify which terminal your flight uses.
4. Meanwhile, Air India’s low-cost subsidiary Air India Express will move all its domestic flights at Delhi to T1 from the same date.
5. It remains clear that all international flights of Air India will continue from T3 for now.
6. The underlying driver: upgrades and expansion work at T3.
7. The terminal T2 itself has been freshly refurbished and ready to reopen for this purpose. For example, coverage notes T2 is reopened to host about 120 domestic flights daily from October 26. 

In short: if you’re booking or flying a domestic leg within India that begins or ends at Delhi after October 26, 2025, check your terminal. If your flight number begins with “AI1XXX” it likely departs from T2. If your booking is with Air India Express it’s likely from T1.

Why the Change Happened (Airport Upgrades, Congestion, Operational Efficiency)

You might wonder: why all this shuffle? The answer is straightforward: hub optimisation. As Delhi’s IGI airport grows, T3 is being expanded to handle more international traffic. That means domestic operations are being shifted out of T3 so the work can proceed smoothly without disrupting major international arrivals.

Also, refurbishing T2 (and putting T1 to more use) helps redistribute load, reduce congestion at T3, and ultimately give travellers a smoother experience. Cover story: T2 was closed earlier (for repairs since 15 April 2025) and has been brought back into focus.

For you flying out of the U.S., this means a little extra attention up front will save you time and potential hassle later.

How This Affects Connecting Travellers (Especially U.S. Flyers)

If you’ve booked your flight from USA to India with Air India, here’s what to keep in mind:

1. Your international leg (US to Delhi) will still arrive/depart at T3. Good — nothing changes there.
2. If you have an onward domestic flight from Delhi (India connection) it could now be from T2 (or T1 in case of Air India Express).
3. Suppose you land from the U.S. into T3, then you have a domestic flight from Delhi to Mumbai, Bangalore etc. You’ll need to check which terminal your domestic leg uses. If it’s T2, you’ll move from T3 → T2; if T1, you’ll even further.
4. Baggage transfers: If you have a single ticket (one PNR) on Air India for the international + domestic, your baggage should be through-checked and you won’t need to collect and re-check. The press release confirms seamless transfer for inter-terminal connections where applicable.
5. But if you’ve booked separately (international ticket with Air India, domestic separately etc), you may need to handle baggage and check-in anew at the new terminal.
6. Because the terminals are different, you should allow extra buffer time for transfer. The distance between T3 and T1 is noticeably more than staying within one terminal.
7. For U.S. flyers booking winter/holiday travel: check layover time, terminal numbers, and maybe choose a longer layover if uncertain.

Smooth-Travel Tips — Pre-flight & Transit Guide

Here are some practical pointers to help you stay ahead of the curve:

1. Check your terminal in advance: Use Air India’s website/app (Manage My Booking) or check your e-ticket. Confirm whether your domestic leg is one of the shifted flights.
2. Look at the flight number: If your domestic flight from Delhi is a four-digit number beginning with “1” (AI1XXX), it likely operates from T2. If it’s with Air India Express, look for “9XXX” series.
3. Arrive early for international departures – For US to Delhi flights, you should aim for the airline’s recommended check-in time (commonly 3 hours ahead). Once landed in Delhi, if you have a domestic connection, factor in transfer time.
4. Allow extra time if you’re moving terminals – Use the free inter-terminal shuttle between T1, T2, T3 (runs every ~10 minutes according to the press release).
5. Track your baggage situation – If you’re through-ticketed, expect seamless baggage transfer. If not, you’ll likely collect and re-check — minimal but worth knowing ahead.
6. Monitor your contact details – Air India says it will proactively notify passengers whose flights are relocated. But it still pays to check your booking.
7. Be aware of signage and airport staff – Because of the changes, staff will have dedicated assistance, and signage will be updated. If you’re unsure, ask airport staff wearing special vests (as noted by Air India’s announcement).
8. US to India travellers consider travel timing – During peak seasons (holidays, festivals), the airport will be busy. If you know you have to transfer terminals, build in a bit of cushion time.

Quick Recap 

To wrap things up: if you’re flying Air India from the U.S. and have a leg via Delhi, your international arrival remains at T3. But from 26 October 2025, a chunk of domestic flights will shift to T2 (for Air India) or T1 (for Air India Express). Make a habit of checking your flight number, terminal information, and transfer buffer time. With this awareness, you’ll avoid unnecessary airport stress. And if you want last-minute flights from the USA to India, along with route deals and travel support, Tripbeam is ready to help you.

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